My turn to ask for thoughts...he's fine, I guess. #20

[Taz_Zoee]

I noticed a lump on Taz's side over the weekend. I called this morning and got an appointment for tomorrow night. I come home tonight and I can SEE the lump now. It is getting bigger.
He is eating and pottying fine. So I just hope it is nothing serious.

Come on PT, get those thoughts going for my "old" man, please.

Thanks in advance.

[Moesha]

Can you feel the lump? Take it in your hands and roll it around. It is hard or softish? Can you feel the whole thing, like a ball? Can you tell if it is attached to anything or if it is sort of self-contained? Is it under the skin or growing up out of it?

Hope that the vet determines that it is a cyst or something that isn't something to be worried about.

[Catty1]

Aw, Taz!

Cindy, I suspect he picked up a small wound from baby sister during play, and it has abcessed.

PRAYERS for Taz! Give him a snuggle for me.

[Medusa]

Many prayers going up for Taz that all is well.....

[jazzcat]

Good healing thoughts for Taz.

[Karen]

Hope it's nothing serious, but he'll be in our prayers!

[CouturePup]

Poor guy, I will be thinking of him.

[Taz_Zoee]

Moesha - I checked and it is kinda soft, it feels like it's attached. Also, there is a similar one on the other side, but one is bigger than the other. And they were not there before. I'm hoping I am over reacting and it is nothing.

Candace - I wish that were the case (it would be a for sure fix), but Taz and Paizly just do not play like that. They sometimes playfully swat at each other, but not rolling around together or anything.

Thank you all so much for the good thoughts.

[jennielynn1970]

Soft sounds like it would be more of a cyst. I hope that's all they both are.

I'll be keeping Taz in my thoughts and will be sure to check in on this tomorrow!!

Big hugs going out to you and Taz.

[Bengalz]

I hope everything goes well with the Vet visit and that Taz comes home with a good result.

You're not over reacting, just a concerned mommy. I completely understand and would feel the same way. Hugs to you and Taz

[Taz_Zoee]

Well, like I said the lump is not there so there was nothing for the vet to see.
But I did ask her about his having a hard time swallowing and losing his voice. She said if his voice doesn't come back within a week to let her know.
She did feel around his belly and said his bladder is VERY full. He just had full panel blood work done back in March so she said he should be fine until his next annual check up next March.
But she wants me to put him on special food because one of the numbers was a little high. So we want to deter that number going higher.
I'm NOT happy that they want me to buy their Science Diet food. I always feel like it's a scam just to make them money. So I only got 4 cans of it just to see if he'll even like it. He seems to be getting picky in his old age.

Ugh, I'm so frustrated. I haven't been feeling good this week. All I want to do is sleep and then I waste my time at the stinking vets, plus $50. (don't get me wrong, I'd pay whatever I had to for my babies) I think it's just all building up and I might explode!!

So, on that note, I'm going to go to bed now.

Again, thank you for your thoughts and everything. I really appreciate it.

(I just re-read my post and it doesn't make much sense. I'm sorry, but I don't know how else to explain it. Maybe tomorrow I can try again.)

[Moesha]

I so know that feeling of being concerned about your baby and going through the trouble and worry and expense of getting them to the vet only to really have no answers.
Chin up! Glad the lumps went away from Taz. What kind of Science Diet food is it? Is there another brand that would offer comparable results that you would prefer to feed him? I know I didn't have good results with Science Diet Lite. Morgan gained weight every time he went in despite being on a strictly rationed diet! My other wonder is why if the blood work was done in March and the levels were up then, whey did they wait until now to change the food? Especially without another blood check. Strange. Hope you slept well!

[kimlovescats]

((((HUGS)))) Hang in there!

[Taz_Zoee]

Moesha - she put him on k/d. And boy he 's it! He devoured it this morning. It does have an analysis on it. And I am going to compare it to other foods. I also wanted to ask PT experts their opinion too.
She said it should be a food low in protein and salt but high in fat. So if anybody has any ideas of a good food I could purchase at Petsmart, Petco or Pet Food Express, that would be great! Pet Food Express is even better because I get a discount there through ARF.

And I have no idea why she didn't suggest I change his diet back in March. Maybe she did, but I just wasn't listening. I tend to not hear things when I'm at the vet. But I recall her saying it's nothing to worry about right now. She did say it was time for another blood check and I said - but he just had it in March. I've always taken them in once a year. But I guess with his age I should start taking him in twice a year. But blood work costs over $300. I can handle that once a year. It'd be tight to handle it twice a year. But if it comes down to that then that's what I'll do, of course.

Thanks for the encouraging words Moesha and Kim.

[Medusa]

You might want to double check w/your vet about having his blood work done again since he just had it done in March. Unless he needs to be monitored, once a year is often enough, even w/senior cats. I have 3 seniors and they go in only once a year for senior blood work.

I'm glad he loves the KD. My Puddy loves it, too, thank goodness, even the dry.